Day 312: Spun Sugar Artful Card Kit Part 1

Tonight I punched out all of the die cut shapes that are part of the Spun Sugar Artful Card Kit from Hot Off The Press.  I will have to work on designing the cards another day, but at least the die cuts are punched out and ready to be used.

Day 311: Sympathy Card

Unfortunately, the mom of one of my daughter's friends died yesterday, so tonight I helped her to make a sympathy card.  I showed her how to use the Cuttlebug embossing folder, how to use the Stamp-A-Ma-Jig to position her stamps where she wanted them, and how to use Copic markers to color the praying hands image (Dollar Tree; all other images and verses shown, card stock:  Stampin' Up!). Inks:  Brown: Memento and Silver: Colorbox. My daughter selected the card stock, embossing folder, and all the stamps and inks used. Hopefully this card will help lift her friend up after the sudden and unexpected death of her mother.

Day 310: Organizing Big Shot Supplies

Tonight I organized my Big Shot dies, cutting plates, extra die cuts, embossing folders, etc.  At first I kept everything together in one big container, but as I have accumulated more supplies, it was not working.  Tonight I put my 12" dies and cutting plates in a big basket.  I put all of my regular size dies in a storage container with the names of each die facing up so it is easier for me to find what I am looking for.  I put all of my extra die cut shapes in another storage container, but separated them by type of die cut (i.e., circles, or label, etc.). Often I have the negative image of a die remaining, or maybe I cut something out in one color and decide it doesn't look right for whatever I am working on; then I have a die that I need to save to use on something different.

Working on getting these tools better organized will definitely help me to work more effectively the next time I want to make something with them, so I feel like it was time well spent to organize this area of my scrapbook and card-making room.

Day 309: Old and New Stampin' Up! Stamps Sets

Today I mounted 6 sets of stamps from Stampin' Up!  I had some that I had purchased from yard sales and a couple that I had ordered from the current catalog.  I really enjoy the fact that SU now die cuts all of their stamps.  While I like the two older sets I put together, I had forgotten about the time it takes to cut around all those images.  Upon occasion, I have just mounted the stamps without cutting close to the images, but I find that it is worth the time to cut around them so as to end up with cleaner stamped images.

Day 308: Day of Gratitude Thanksgiving Card Version 4

Finally, all done making my Thanksgiving cards!

Day 307: Day of Gratitude Thanksgiving Card Version 3

The really nice thing about using a series of coordinating papers and stamps is that you can stamp one image and mix and match it with lots of different papers for totally different looks.

Day 306: Day of Gratitude Thanksgiving Card

I have been making Thanksgiving cards using the Day of Gratitude stamp set and coordinating designer paper from Stampin' Up! and using a technique I learned on Meg Loven's blog. Today I got all of the stamped images cut out; cut and scored card stock (Recollections by Michael) for the card bases; and stamped the inner verse on all the cards I plan to send for Thanksgiving. (That felt pad is still able to be used on day three of this project!!)  I will spend time tomorrow assembling more of the cards.